SPECIES FACT SHEET
Scientific Name: Cortinarius barlowensis
Division: Basidiomycota
Class:
Agaricomycetes
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Cortinariaceae
Conservation Status:
Global: G3?
State: OR S2, WA Not ranked
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC) List 2
(Ranks from ORBIC, http://orbic.pdx.edu accessed August 16, 2013)
Type Locality: This species is in the process of being described according to J.
Ammirati (pers comm., 1/24/12). They are currently working on DNA
sequencing and morphological studies.
Technical Description: Cap 21-40 mm in diameter, conic to obtuse, then
convex with a slight umbo or sometimes umbonate, margin incurved to
decurved, edge enrolled, surface with fine pale to ochraceous buff veil fibrils
overall, sometimes a slight fibrillose fringe on edge, color vinaceous gray to
dark vinaceous gray or more violaceous or blue-violet. Gills to 9-10 m wide,
adnexed to emarginate, violet to blue violet to gray, Spores pale rust brown,
ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, 8.7-11.8 x 5.9-7.0 microns. Stalk 62-87 mm long,
apex 4-6.5 mm thick, clavate to clavate bulbous or bulbous, base 6-15 mm
thick above blue lavender to white or gray. Cortina (inner veil) silver-white,
surface thinly streaked with white to silver fibrils, universal veil leaving fairly
distinct pale tan to yellow-tan bands and patches. Pileipellis (cellular cortex)
with a thin surface layer of interwoven hyphae, 3.7-11 microns wide, somewhat
thick-walled, hyaline to pale yellow, terminal elements sometimes cystoids;
surface layer subtended by distinct layer of hyaline to pale yellow inflated cells
8.1-37 microns wide.
This cort is recognized by its large spore size and shape and pileipellis
structure. It is similar in general appearance to Cortinarius azureus except
spores in this species are more subglobose and smaller and the pileipellis has a
less distinctly formed cellular layer beneath the surface hyphae. Cortinarius
paranomalus is also similar to C. barlowensis but has a browner cap and
somewhat different pileipellis structure. Some forms of Cortinarius anomalus
are similar in appearance to C. barlowensis but has subglobose spores.
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Life History: This taxon is a presumed ectomycorrhizal former. Sporocarps are
solitary to gregarious in coastal to montane coniferous forest. Fruits in
autumn.
Range, Distribution, and Abundance: This species is widely distributed in
western Oregon and Washington. It has been found in western Cascades
Provinces of both Oregon and Washington, and Washington’s coastal provinces.
There approximately 35 sites of this species throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Some of the sites include: Washington: Clallam Co., 2 sites: Olympic NF,
Caracu Cr. And Sitkum Cr., also reported from Olympic NP, Lake Angeles
Trail; Grays Harbor Co., 4 sites Olympic NF: Quinault RNA, Amanda Park and
Gatton Cr., also reported from Wilby Creek; Jefferson Co. 1 site Olympic NF:
Buck Mt., also reported from Olympic NP, Hoh River; Snohomish Co. , 4 sites
on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF: Barlow Pass, Grizzly Peak area; Skagit Co. 9
sites on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF in Cascade River, Texas Pond, Downy Creek,
Magic Mtn., mid fork Stillaguamish regions; Whatcom Co. 3 sites Mt BakerSnoqualmie NF: Bald Mt, Lookout Mt, Goat Mt.; Lewis Co. 2 sites Gifford
Pinchot NF: Little Lava Cr. and Cora Lake. Oregon: Lane Co. Umpqua NF:
Holland Point; Marion Co. 2 sites Willamette NF: near Breitenbush River;
Clackamas Co., Mount Hood NF, East Fork Salmon River, and Middle Fork
Salmon River (one of these sites in GEOBOB, both in ISMS); Douglas Co., Lake
Tahkenitch.
FS/BLM lands in Oregon and Washington: Documented on Olympic NF, Mt.
Baker-Snoqualmie NF, Gifford Pinchot NF, Umpqua NF, Willamette NF, Mount
Hood NF, and Siuslaw NF.
Habitat Associations: Populations have been located in Pacific silver fir (46%),
western hemlock (27%), mountain hemlock (15%), and Sitka spruce (12%)
plant associations. Subtypes of habitat included ABAM wetlands (31%), TSHE
wetlands (19%), wet ABAM (15%), PISI wetlands (12%), TSME wetlands, wet
TSME, wet TSHE (8% each)
Associated trees include Pacific silver fir, western hemlock and mountain
hemlock. Other woody associates include dwarf Oregon grape, salal, devil’s
club, Pacific rhododendron, Alaska and bigleaf huckleberries.
Populations range from 25-4729 feet in elevation and are found in roughly
equal numbers on all aspects.
Threats: Because the species is mycorrhizal any adverse impact to host trees
or actions that would disturb the soil and duff in the vicinity of fruiting bodies
could have an adverse effect on the species. Fire could be a potential harmful
agent to Cortinarius barlowensis because the plant associations in which it is
found are subject to infrequent but stand-replacing wildfires.
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Conservation Considerations: Buffer known populations from management
activities that include tree removal and soil compaction or disturbance.
Consider buffering populations from prescribed burns.
Other pertinent information (includes references to Survey Protocols,
etc): The survey protocol for sensitive fungi is located on the ISSSSP website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/documents/inventories/inv-sp-fuver1-2008-12.pdf.
The survey protocol for Survey and Manage fungi is located on the Survey and
Manage website: http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/surveyandmanage/protocols/
Prepared by: Jenny Lippert, Willamette NF
Date: March, 2013
Edited by: Rob Huff, BLM/FS Portland, Oregon
Date: January, 2014
ATTACHMENTS:
(1)
References
(2)
Map of Species Distribution
(3)
Photographs of Species
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ATTACHMENT 1. References
Castellano, M.A., E. Cazares, B. Fondrick and T. Dreisbach. 2003. Handbook
to Additional Fungal Species of Special Concern in the Northwest Forest Plan.
GTR-572. USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Corvallis.
Not in Mushrooms Demystified by David Aurora.
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ATTACHMENT 2. Map of Species Distribution in OR/WA
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ATTACHMENT 3: Photos of Cortinarius barlowensis
Photos from Castellano et. al,
2003 (see full reference
in REFERENCES section)
Photos courtesy of Thom O’Dell
and Joe Ammirati
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